Lightning News

SunSports to air offseason edition of Inside the Lightning on Wednesday

by
Staff Writer
/ Tampa Bay Lightning

It may be summer time here in Florida, but that doesn't mean Tampa Bay's National Hockey League franchise hasn't been busy gearing up for the new season. Join us on Wednesday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m., as Sun Sports, the regional television home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, proudly presents the newest edition of "Inside the Lightning." Titled "Off-Season Special," this show begins with a brief look back at the Lightning's playoff stint before spanning the country for a host of must-watch events.

Hosted by Paul Kennedy, the show starts by taking viewers to the bright lights in Las Vegas, Nev., for the fourth-annual NHL Awards Show. Head Coach Jon Cooper was nominated for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year, while goaltender Ben Bishop (Vezina Trophy, top goaltender) and first-year forwards Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat (Calder Trophy, rookie of the year) were also up for honors of their own. From there, it's off to Philadelphia, Pa. and the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, where fans will get an all-access introduction to the Bolts' first-round selection, defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.

It's then back down to Tampa Bay and the annual development camp that took place less than a week later. From new draftees like DeAngelo and second-round picks Dominik Masin and Johnathan MacLeod, to prospects that have experienced it before, the camp is one of teaching and learning, both on and off the ice. Drawing particular interest from General Manager Steve Yzerman and Cooper are 2012 first-round draft choice, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and last year's first-round selection, forward Jonathan Drouin. The season Drouin spent in 2013-14 with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League helped the third overall pick refine his game, and illustrates the success of Yzerman, Director of Player DevelopmentStacy Roest, the scouting system and the entire team in building organizational depth.